Home Arlington Police charge man with bias-related crimes in case of stolen Pride flags
Public Safety, Virginia

Arlington Police charge man with bias-related crimes in case of stolen Pride flags

Crystal Graham
Matthew Henshaw mugshot
Matthew Henshaw

A neighborhood in Arlington repeatedly had Pride flags stolen over the course of four months, and after a police investigation, two men have been arrested and charged in the incidents.

According to police, between September 2023 and January 2024, police received five online reports for Pride flags stolen in the 200 block of S. Courthouse Road.

In each incident, a male suspect approached the property during the early morning hours and stole a Pride flag from outside the residence before leaving the scene.

Detectives reviewed evidence and conducted witness interviews which led to the identification of the suspects.

Two men have been charged in the incidents:

  • Matthew Henshaw, 20, of Fort Myer, was arrested and charged with three counts of Virginia Code § 18.2-121 Unlawful Entry – Bias Motivated and three counts of Virginia Code § 18.2-96 Petit Larceny for incidents occurring on Sept. 16, Sept. 30 and Jan. 27. He was released on a secured bond.
  • Joseph Digregorio, 23, of Bay Shore, New York, was charged with one count of Virginia Code § 18.2-96 Petit Larceny for an incident occurring in Jan. 21. He was released on a summons.

This remains an active criminal investigation.

Anyone with additional information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at (703) 228-4180 or [email protected].

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for nearly 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.